TVNZ spokeswoman Meredith McGrath confirmed Price had withdrawn, telling the ODT the conditions of the contract were imposed by Imagination Television Ltd and were universal to the programme nationally and internationally.

She said contestants were not precluded from any public performances. The contract signed did not require them to seek approval from the show's producers before participating in any media interviews, performances or programmes.

However, one condition did prevent them from talking to the media for 30 days after the transmission of the final programme.